A young lady came to Dr. Anoop Srivastava (MD Psychiatry, Gold medalist) with complaint of poor self care, remaining withdrawn and showing abnormal behavior. The detail history revealed that patient had suspiciousness, hearing voices, muttering, gesturing, poor sleep. Gradually she stopped socializing, not taking interest in pleasureful activities, feeling unmotivated and she was so self-withdrawn that she stopped communicating. Symptoms progressed and she stopped taking meals, cleaning herself leading to her poor medical condition. Treatment was initiated and she started sleeping, taking meal and gradually spoke for the first time many years after her illness as stated by her brother. Her medical condition improved and abnormal behavior also subsided.
UNDERSTANDING SCHIZOPHRENIA
Schizophrenia is severe psychiatric disorder. Its type of psychotic disorder. Early identification and adequate treatment can make the patient quite better.
According to DSM – 5 diagnostic criteria of Schizophrenia is as follow:
A. Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a
1-month period (or less if successfully treated). At least one of these must be (1), (2), or (3):
- Delusions.
- Hallucinations.
- Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence).
- Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.
- Negative symptoms (i.e., diminished emotional expression or avolition).
B. For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, level of function-
ing in one or more major areas, such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, is
markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the onset is in childhood
or adolescence, there is failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic,
or occupational functioning).
C. Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period
must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Cri-
terion A (i.e., active-phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual
symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may
be manifested by only negative symptoms or by two or more symptoms listed in Criterion
A present in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).
D. Schizoaffective disorder and depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features
have been ruled out because either 1) no major depressive or manic episodes have
occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms, or 2) if mood episodes have
occurred during active-phase symptoms, they have been present for a minority of the
total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness.
E. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a
drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.
F. If there is a history of autism spectrum disorder or a communication disorder of child-
hood onset, the additional diagnosis of schizophrenia is made only if prominent delu-
sions or hallucinations, in addition to the other required symptoms of schizophrenia,
are also present for at least 1 month (or less if successfully treated).
Good
Thanks
Good work
Thanks
It’s Very Commendable Sir, You are doing a very good job in this area and all the Patients who come to you go back completely Satisfied. I only wish that you work like this for the people of Deoria district and free our Deoria district from Mental Diseases …
Thanks
Good job sir, I hope that you will continue to help patients in this way in their recovery.. 🥰
Good Working Sir
thanks